The NHL has entered the final weeks of the regular season, and Stanley Cup playoff odds are shifting as teams battle for the last remaining postseason spots. The race is tightest in the Eastern Conference, where the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, and New York Islanders are all on the playoff bubble as they vie for wild card spots.
Below, we’ll look at current NHL playoff betting odds for every bubble team as the season winds down. You can also check out full Stanley Cup odds, daily NHL odds for every game, and how to bet on hockey.
NHL playoff odds
Detroit Red Wings
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
The Red Wings boosted their playoff hopes with a 4-2 win over the Lightning on Monday, but they still sit just outside the wild card zone. The good news is that Detroit has a three-game homestand coming up, with a chance to pick up a home win over Washington that would help the cause. The Red Wings will also finish the season with back-to-back games against last-place Montreal.
Washington Capitals
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
The Capitals sit just behind Philadelphia in the Metropolitan Division, tied with Detroit at 82 points. The Caps own the tiebreaker if it comes to that, and if the season ended today, Washington would get the second wild card slot. Of the eight games remaining for Washington, two are against teams that have already clinched playoff spots and eclipsed 100 points on the season.
Philadelphia Flyers
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
The Flyers are third in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve lost five straight, however, and are beginning to show signs of strain with coach John Tortorella ripping his own team following Monday’s overtime loss. The pressure is on for Philadelphia to halt the skid and end the season with some momentum for a playoff run. The Flyers do have one of the easier schedules to close out the season, with four of their last six games coming against teams that are essentially out of playoff contention.
Tampa Bay Lightning
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
With the highest point total of all the Eastern Conference bubble teams, it would likely take a total collapse over the final eight games to keep the Lightning out of the postseason. The team faces the third-place Toronto Maple Leafs twice in that span, but it also has five upcoming games against teams that are in the bottom three of their respective divisions.
New York Islanders
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Eastern Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
The Islanders picked up a big overtime win over the Flyers on Monday, followed by a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks to edge within striking distance of a wild card spot. If the season ended today, New York would be on the outside looking in. The team has some tough matchups left on the schedule, including two games against the first-place Rangers and one against a Nashville Predators squad that has all but locked up a playoff spot of its own.
Los Angeles Kings
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Western Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
As long as the Kings don’t totally implode, they should see some postseason action. If the season ended today, Los Angeles would get the second wild card in the Western Conference. The Kings also have a relatively easy schedule to finish the regular season, with five of their last eight games coming against teams with losing records.
St. Louis Blues
- Odds to make the playoffs:
- Odds to win the Western Conference:
- Odds to win the Stanley Cup:
The Blues are really the only thing resembling a bubble team with a realistic shot in the Western Conference. St. Louis is chasing the Kings for the second wild card spot in the west, and the team helped its own cause with an overtime win over Edmonton on Monday. Still, the Blues have some tough matchups down the stretch and are still three points behind the Kings with seven games to play.
